Denver celebrates pot at the county fair

DENVER (AP) — Marijuana joined roses and dahlias Friday in blue ribbon events at the nation's first county fair to allow pot competitions.

This weekend's Denver County Fair includes a 21-and-over "Pot Pavilion" where winning entries for plants, bongs, edible treats and clothes made from hemp are on display.

There's no actual weed at the fairgrounds. Instead, fairgoers will see photos of the competing pot plants and marijuana-infused foods. A sign near the entry warns patrons not to consume pot at the fair.

A speed joint-rolling contest uses oregano, not pot. The only real stuff allowed at the event? Doritos, to be used in the munchie eating contest.

Organizers say the marijuana categories this year — which come with the debut of legal recreational marijuana in Colorado — add a fun twist on Denver's already-quirky county fair, which includes a drag queen pageant and a contest for dioramas made with Peeps candies.

"We've been selling tickets to people from all over the world, and we keep hearing they want to come see the pot," said Dana Cain, who helped organize Denver County's first fair three years ago. This year's event is expected to draw 20,000 people.

Judges considered only the quality of individual marijuana plants, not potency or the merits of drugs produced by the plants.

"It's more like a rose competition than anything," said Russel Wise, a pot grower who entered three plants and a marijuana-infused baklava treat.

"It has to be something special, something you'd want to use," said judge Robert Folse, who works at a pot dispensary as a "budtender," sort of a sommelier for marijuana.

It's too soon to say whether marijuana contests will spread to other state fairs. Officials in Routt County, in western Colorado, voted last year to ban marijuana from the county fair. Colorado State Fair organizers have expressed no interest in marijuana competition.

California holds an Emerald Cup at the fairgrounds in Sonoma County, where guests with medical clearance are able to sample the drug. That contest is held at the fairgrounds but isn't a part of the county fair.